Easel and seat assembly



A ril 5, 1966 H. s. BOUTlN 3,244,450

, EASEL AND SEAT ASSEMBLY Filed July 1, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. HAHULF 5. .50 u TIN.

April 5, 1966 H. s. BOUTIN EASEL AND SEAT ASSEMBLY INVENTOR: HAHDLD 5.BDUTJN.

6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1. 1964 April 5, 1966 H. s. BOUTIN EASEL AND SEAT ASSEMBLY 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Filed July 1, 1964 mm. m N W W HAHULD 5. BUUTIN.

April 5, 1966 H. s. BOUTIN EASEL AND SEAT ASSEMBLY 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 1, 1964 INVENTOR. ffAHULD 5. 510mm.

ATTYs.

April 5, 1966 H. s. BOUTlN EASEL AND SEAT ASSEMBLY 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 1, 1964 INVENTOR. HAHULF 5 BJUTJN.

ATTYS.

United States Patent 3,244,450 EASEL AND SEAT ASSEMBLY Harold S. Boutin, 31217 Fostoria Road, Curtice, Ohio Filed July 1, 1964, Ser. No. 379,624 7 Claims. (Cl. 297-456) This invention relates to an easel and, more particularly, to an easel and seat assembly for use by an artist when he is away from his studio, for example, on a field tri l lVhen an artist is on a field trip some kind of a device for holding a workpiece is necessary. It is also desirable from the artists point of view to have a collapsible seat assembly on which to sit while he is Working on his painting. Any apparatus of this type must be of a size to readily fit in an automobile trunk and also be light enough for the artist to carry.

It is, therefore, the primary object of the instant invention to provide an easel and seat assembly which is collapsible into a compact unit for storage and carrying purposes.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide an artists easel and seat assembly which, when in an operative position, is stable enough to support the weight of an artist. 7

It is still another object of the instant invention to provide an easel and seat assembly which is light enough to carry for a relatively long distance.

g It is a still further object of the instant invention to provide an easel and seat assembly wherein the plane of the workpiece can be readily adjusted.

It is still a further object of the instant invention to provide an easel and seat assembly which is suitable for use when working in either oils or water colors.

Further objects of this invention will become apparent-from' the following specification and drawings, in which: a

FIG. 1 is a front quarter view in perspective showing an easel'and seat assembly, embodying the invention, which is adaptable to work either in oils or water colors and with a workpiece shown in place;

FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation of another embodiment of an easel and seat assembly, used when working in oils only, and showing in dashed lines a secondary position of a mast and also showing how a larger workpiece can be accommodated;

' FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, rear view, showing seat means, a leg bracket, and legs in a closed position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, top view of the seat assembly shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, ventica-l sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; I

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, front view of a leg bracket, according to the instant invention, and showing a portion of the legs in an open position;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the mast portion of the easel and seat assembly, shown in FIG. 1, and shown on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7 and shown on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7 and shown on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, side view in elevation of another embodiment of the instant invention and showing different positions of a workpiece in dashed lines;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, top view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary, rear view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 and showing, on an enlarged scale, a ball and socket adjusting device;

3,244,450 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 FIG. 13 is a fragmentary, side view in elevation showing the workholder means of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 14 is a rear view taken from the position indicated by the line 14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, top view showing a connection between a stay brace and a frame brace, according to the instant invention;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, side view of the connection device illustrated in FIG. 15 showing the parts disassembled; and

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of an easel and seat assembly, according to the instant invention, illustrating how the parts are moved from an operative to ,a collapsed position.

Briefly, the present invention is an easel and seat assembly for use by an artist in the field. The assembly comprises a longitudinally extending frame brace with a seat mounted adjacent a first end of the frame brace. A pair of legs are also mounted adjacent the first end of the frame brace whereby the frame brace and the legs form a tripod when the easel and seat assembly is in an operative position. A mast is mounted at one. of its ends adjacent the second end of the frame brace and means are provided forreleasably securing a workpiece to the mast.

An embodiment. of the instant invention is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings with an easel and seat assembly being generally indicated by the reference numeral 30. The assembly 30 comprises a longitudinally extending frame brace 31 which in the preferred embodiment is an extruded aluminum channel. The frame brace 31 has opposed, longitudinally extending recesses or locking tracks 31a formed in its interior side walls. Seat means, generally indicated by the reference numeral 32, are mounted adjacent a first end 33. of the frame brace 31.

The seat means 32 comprises a base 34 pivotally mounted to the first end 33 of the frame brace 31 by a bracket 35 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the base 34 (see FIG. 3). A seat 36 is rotatably mounted for movement around an axis perpendicular to the plane of the base 34 by a grommet 37. The seat 36 comprises a front half 38 and a rear half 39 which are connected to each other by hinges 40. The front half 38 and the rear half 39 are hinged for movement around an axis parallel to the plane of the base 34.

The front half 38 of the seat 36 has a downwardly turned front edge 41 and the rear half 39 has an upwardly turned rear edge 42. The edges 41 and 42 are provided for the comfort of the user of the assembly 30 and they also add structural strength t the seat 36.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the seat 36 is folded for storage, the rear edge 42 of the rear half 33 nests with the front edge 41 of the front half 38 of the seat 36.

Referring to FIG. 3, ears 43 extend downwardly from the rear half 39 of the seat 36 in a position adjacent to a downwardly turned flange 44 on the base 34. The ears 43 acting against the flange 44 prevent horizontal movement of the seat 36 relative to the base 34 when the seat 36 is in an operative position.

Two legs 45 and 46 are pivotally mounted adjacent the first end 33 of the frame base 31 by a leg bracket 47 having inturned flanges 48 and 49 (see FIG. 1) engaged with a pin 50 which is mounted on the first end 33 of the frame brace 31.

Referring to FIG. 4, a seat latching spring 51 having free ends 52 and 53 is fixedly mounted to the bottom of the base 34. When the leg bracket 47 is moved into an operative position the ends 52 and 53 of the seat latching spring 51 snap into recesses 54 and 55 located in the upper portion of the leg bracket 47 to releasably secure the leg bracket 47 in the operative position.

The leg bracket 47 has integral leg mounting wings 56 and 57 defined by its upper portion and lower integral holding members 58 and 59 defined in its lower portion. Detents 60 and 61 are provided on the inn-er sides of the holding members 58 and 59, respectively. The leg 45 is pivotally mounted by a pin 62 to the wing 56 of the leg bracket 47 and likewise, the leg 46 is pivotally mounted to the wing 57 by a pin 63. The legs 45 and 46 are movable between an open position shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, wherein the detents 60 and 61 releasably secure the legs 45 and 46 and a closed position, shown in FIG. 3, wherein the legs 45 and 46 are swung inwardly toward the frame brace 31. When the seat means 32 and the legs 45 and 46 are in the operative position, shown in FIG. 1, the legs 45 and 46 and the frame brace 31 form a tripod. Preferably a second end 64 of the frame brace 31 has an arcuate shape so that the frame brace 31 does not bury itself in the ground. The tripod arrangement, described above, is very important for it gives stability to the easel and seat assembly. The center of gravity of a person sitting on the seat means 32 of the assembly 30 is located within an area defined by the three ground engaging points of the tripod. Preferably, one of the legs is telescoping (not shown) so that the tripod may be adjusted when the assembly 30 is used upon uneven ground or upon the side of a hill.

A plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures 65 are formed in the locking tracks 31a of the frame brace 31. The apertures 65 serve as cooperating means with components of the assembly 30 which will be described in further detail below.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mast 66 is mounted at the second end 64 of the frame brace 31. More specifically, a first end 67 of the mast 66 is pivotally mounted to the second end 64 of the frame brace 31 by a pin 68. Preferably, the pin 68 is provided with a stop (not shown) which engages the second end 64 to prevent excessive rotation of the mast 66 with respect to the frame brace 31.

The mast .66, shown in FIG. 1, is suitable for use when working in either oils or water colors. The mast 66a, shown in FIG. 2, is primarily suitable for working in oils, while the mast 66b, shown in FIG. is primarily suitable for working in water colors. All of these embodiments are within the scope of the instant in- :vention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a stay brace .69 has a first end 70 pivotally connected to the mas-t .66 and a second end 71 removably connected to the frame brace 31. Referring to FIG. 15, a spring lock 72 is mounted on the sec end end 71 of the stay brace 69. The spring lock 72 has two outwardly extending leaves 73. Each of the leaves 73 has a shouldered pin 74 mounted on its outer surface, which is slidably positioned within the respective one of the locking tracks 31a. The opposed pins 74 are releasably secured in opposed ones of the apertures 65. When it is desired to change the plane of the mast 66 inward pressure is applied to leaves 73 thereby removing the pins 74 from the spaced apertures 65. The pins 65 then can be, for example, slid in the opposed locking tracks 31a until they index in a second pair of opposed apertures 65a.

When an easel and seat assembly is used solely for working in oils, the mast 66 is of a one-piece construction as shown in FIG. 2. The mast 66 is formed with a longitudinal slot 75. A canvas rest 76 having outwardly extending fingers 77 and 78 is mounted for longitudinal movement within the slot 75 by a wing nut and bolt 79. The sliding movement of the canvas rest 76 enables the assembly to accommodate workpieces 80 of varying sizes.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, an .arm '81 is riveted, or otherwise suitably connected, to the upper end of the mast 66. The arm 81 has a circular opening 82 extending through its upper portion which receives a locking bolt 83. The head of the locking bolt 83 defines a circular opening 84 and a rod 85 extends through the opening 04. A lock washer 86 is disposed between the head of the locking bolt 33 and the arm 81 and a wing nut 87 is threaded on the bolt 84 whereby tightening of the wing nut 87 prevents rotation of the rod 85. The rod 85 is generally L-shaped and a leg 88 of the rod 85 mounts a U-shaped canvas clamp 89. A thumb screw 90 is mounted in an opening 91 formed in a leg 92 of the canvas clamp 89. The thumb screw 90 releasably secures the upper end of the workpiece 80 to the mast 66.

FIG. 1 of the drawings discloses an embodiment of the instant invention, which can be used when working either in oils or in water colors. In this embodiment, the mast 66 has a head section 93 and a foot section 94 which are pivotally connected by a mast hinge 95. The embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, is in an operative position for painting in oils. In this position, the head section 93 and the foot section 94 are held in longitudinal alignment by a plate 96 which is fixedly mounted to the head section 93. A fastener 97 extends through the plate 96 and is releasably connected to a receiving seat (not shown) in the foot section 94.

When it is desired to work in water colors, the fastener 97 is released and the head section 93 of the mast 66 is pivoted downwardly until it is substantially parallel to the stay brace 69 and in contacting relationship with the frame brace 31.

Means, which are disclosed in detail below, are provided for releasably securing a workpiece to the head section 93 of the mast 66 when the assembly 30 is in an operative position for working in water colors.

FIGURE 10 shows a third embodiment of the instant invention. This embodiment is adapted for use primarily when working in water colors. In this embodiment, the upper end of the head section 93 is provided with a spring lock 98, which is structurally identical with the spring lock 72, shown in FIG. 15. The spring lock 98 is mounted, as previously described, within opposed ones of the apertures 65 in the locking tracks 31a, whereby the head section 93 of the mast 66 is placed in a predetermined plane.

Referring to FIGURES 10-12 the means for securing a workpiece, when working in water colors, comprises a socket 99 mounted on the head section 93 of the mast 66. A ball 100 is rotatably mounted in the socket 99. A clamping handle generally indicated by the reference numeral 101, is rotate-d tocompress the socket 99 against the ball 100 for releasably securing the ball 100 in a predetermined position. The clamping handle 101 comprises a bolt 102 having a threaded end 103. The shank of the bolt 102 extends through coaxial openings 104 and 105 in the socket 99. The end 103 of the bolt 102 is movably engaged in a threaded insert of a knob 106. A clamping sleeve 107 surrounds the shank of the bolt 102 and is disposed between the socket 99 and the knob 106.

A holding bracket, generally indicated by the reference numeral 108 is fixedly mounted on the ball 100 and comprises opposed clamping portions 109 and 110. The clamping portion 109 is Y-shaped having a longitudinally extending body 111 and legs 112 and 113. The legs 112 and. 1 13 have upturned ends for receiving and holding a workpiece. The body 111 of the clamping portion 109 defines two longitudinally extending and aligned slots 114 and 115. The clamping portion is slidably mounted on the body 111 of the clamping portion 109 by means of shoulder screws 116 mounted on the clamping portion 110 which extend through and ride in the slots 114 and of the body 111. The clamping portion 110 has an inturned end for holding a workpiece in place and the opposite end of the clamping portion 110 mounts an end of a spring 117. The spring 117 extends between the clamping portion 110 and the clamping portion 109 urging the clamping portions inwardly whereby a workpiece can be releasably secured between the opposed clamping portions 109 and 110.

As described the assembly 30, shown in FIG. 1, is movable between a first operative position, best shown in FIG. and used when working in water colors, and a second operative position, best shown in FIG. 1, for use when working with oils. The assembly 30 is moved into a collapsed position for storage or for carrying purposes. A seat clip 118 is mounted on the outer surface of the mast 66 and retains the seat means 32 when the assembly 30 is in a collapsed position as will be described below. A leg clip 119 is also mounted on the outer surface of the mast 66 and retains the legs 45 and 46 when the assembly 30 is in a collapsed position (see FIG. 9).

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 17, to collapse the assembly 30, locking bolt 83 is released and the rod 85 is rotated parallel to the mast 66 and moved downwardly to the position shownin FIG. 17.

The rear half 39 of the seat 36 of the seat means 32 is rotated upwardly into mating relationship with the front half 38 of the seat 36, as shown in FIG. 17. When the rear half 39 is moved upwardly, the downwardly extending ears 43 on the rear half 39 are moved away from the flange 44 on the base 34. The mating front half 38 and rear half 39 of the seat 36 are then rotated 90 wherein the folding line between the front half 38 and the rear half 39 is parallel to a longitudinal center line of the frame brace 31.

Next, the legs 45 and 46 are pivoted inwardly from the open position shown in FIG. 6 to the closed position shown in FIG. 3. The leg bracket 47 is then rotated in a counter clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 17), by releasing the ends 52 and 53 of the seat latching spring 51 from recesses 54 and 55 in the leg bracket 47. The legs 45 and 46 and the leg bracket 47 are moved upwardly in the direction of arrows in FIG. 17 until they are parallel and adjacent the frame brace 31.

V The stay brace 69 is released from its operative position by depressing the leaves 73 on the spring lock '72. The free end of the stay brace 69 is then slid in the locking tracks 31a toward the first end 33 of the frame brace 31. Concurrently the mast 66 is rotated downwardly until it nests with the frame brace 31. The legs 45 and 46 snap into the leg clip 119 mounted on the mast 66 (see FIG. 9). Lastly, the seat means 32 is rotated downwardly, in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 17, to a position adjacent the mast 66 with the seat 36 of the seat means 32 being held in place by the seat clip 118 on the mast 66.

When in its collapsed position, the assembly 30 is readily stored or carried. To place the assembly 30 in one of its operative positions, the above procedure is, of course, reversed.

While the invention has been disclosed in conjunction with a specific form and disposition of the parts, it should be expressly understood that numerous modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claims is:

1. An easel and seat assembly comprising, in combination, a longitudinally extending frame brace, seat means pivotally mounted adjacent a first end of said frame brace, a leg bracket pivotally mounted adjacent said first end of said frame brace for rotation around an axis transverse to said frame brace, means mounted on said seat means for releasably securing said leg bracket in an operative position, a pair of legs pivotally mounted at their upper ends to said leg bracket, said legs being movable between an open and a closed position, whereby when said assembly is in an operative position said frame brace and said legs form a tripod, a mast having a first end mounted at a second end of said frame brace, and means for releasably securing a workpiece to said mast.

2. An easel and seat assembly movable between a collapsed position and an operative position, comprising, in combination, a longitudinally extending frame brace, seat means mounted at a first end of said frame brace, a pair of legs mounted at said first end of said frame brace, whereby said frame brace and said legs form a tripod when said assembly is in the operative position, a mast having a first end pivotally mounted at a second end of said frame brace, a stay brace having a first end pivotally mounted on said mast and a second end releasably engaged with said frame brace when said assembly is in the operative position, and means for releasably securing a workpiece to said mast.

3. An easel and seat assembly, comprising, in combination, a longitudinally extending frame brace having a plurality of longitudinally spaced cooperating means, seat means mounted at a first end of said frame brace, a pair of legs mounted at said first end of said frame brace movable between a collapsed position and an operative position, whereby said frame brace and said legs form a tripod when said assembly is in the operative position, a mast having a first end pivotally mounted at a second end of said frame brace, a stay brace having a first end pivotally mounted on said mast and a second end releasably connectable with said cooperating means for holding said mast in a predetermined plane when said assembly is in the operable position, and means for releasably securing a workpiece to said mast.

4. An easel and seat assembly movable between a collapsed position and an operative position, comprising, in combination, a longitudinally ext-ending frame brace having a plurality of longitudinally spaced cooperating means, seat means mounted at a first end of said frame brace, a pair of legs mounted at said first end of said frame brace, whereby said frame brace and said legs form a tripod when said assembly is in the operative position, a mast having a head section and a foot section, said head section being hinged to said foot section and said foot section being mounted adjacent a second end of said brace, said head section having an end releasably connectable with said cooperating means for holding said head section in a predetermined plane when said assembly is in the operable position, and means for releasably securing a workpiece to said head section.

5. An assembly, according to claim 4, wherein the means for releasably securing a workpiece to said head section comprising a socket mounted on said head section, a ball rotatably mounted in said socket, means for compressing said socket for releasably securing said ball in a predetermined position, a workpiece holding bracket mounted on said ball, said holding bracket having opposed clamping portions, and biasing means for urging said clamping portions inwardly, whereby a workpiece can be releasably secured between said opposed clamping portions.

6. A collapsible easel and seat assembly, comprising, in combination, a longitudinally extending frame brace having a plurality of longitudinally spaced cooperating means, seat means mounted adjacent a first end of said frame brace, a pair of legs mounted adjacent said first end of said frame brace, whereby said frame brace and said legs form a tripod when said assembly is in an operative position, a mast having a head section and a foot section, said head section being hinged to said foot section and said foot section being pivotally mounted adjacent a second end of said brace, said head section being movable between a first operative position and a second operative position, means for releasably securing a workpiece to said head section when said assembly is in the first operative position, means for releasably holding said head section and said foot section in longitudinal alignment when said assembly is in the second operative position, a stay brace having a first end pivotally mounted on said mast and a second end releasably connectable with said cooperating means for holding said mast in a predetermined plane when said assembly is in the second operative position, and means for releasably securing a canvas to said mast when said assembly is in the second operative position.

7. An easel and seat assembly comrising, in combination, a longitudinally extending frame brace, seat means mounted at a first end of said frame brace, a pair of legs mounted at said first end of said frame brace, whereby said frame brace and said legs form a tripod when said assembly is in an operative position, said seat means including a base pivotally mounted around a transverse axis of said frame brace, a seat rotatably mounted on said base for movement around an axis perpendicular to said base, said seat having a front half and a rear half, said front half being hinged to said rear half, and means on said rear half for preventing horizontal movement relative to said base when said seat is in the operative position, a mast having a first end mounted at a second end of said frame brace, and means for releasably securing a workpiece to said mast.

References Cited by the Examiner 20 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN EASEL AND SEAT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING FRAME BRACE, SEAT MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ADJACENT A FIRST END OF SAID BRACE, A LEG BRACKET PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID FIRST END OF SAID FRAME BRACE FOR ROTATION AROUND AN AXIS TRANSVERSE TO SAID FRAME BRACE, MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SEAT MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID LEG BRACKET IN AN OPERATIVE POSITION, A PAIR OF LEGS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT THEIR UPPER 